here he is tangling with john mccain over the troop surge in iraq which mr. hagel opposed. >> if you would like me to explain why -- >> i actually would like an answer. yes or no? >> i'm not going to give you a yes or no. i think it's far more complicated that, as i've said. my answer is i'll defer that judgment to history. >> i think history has already made a judgment about the surge, sir, and you're on the wrong side of it. >> do i think it is right that israel was committing a, quote, sickening slaughter as you said on the floor of the senate? >> i would like to read all of it, what i said. first, i said many, many times, senator, every nation has a right to defend itself. >> do you think a sickening slaughter would constitute a war crime? >> no. depends on, they were attacked. depends on many factors. >> why do you think that the iranian foreign ministry so strongly supports your nomination to be the secretary of defense? >> i have a difficult enough time with american politics, and, senator, i have no idea. but thank you. >>steve: the iranians love him,